Figures released by the government show that the new Green Deal, which is due to start in October, will cause a big drop in the number of homes having loft insulation.

It is estimated that the number of lofts being insulated will fall to only 70,000 a year, whereas the climate change targets are 2 million. Cavity wall installations are likely to drop from 510,00 per year to only 170,000 whereas the target is 1.4million.

At the moment there are government schemes which subsidise the costs of insulation, but under the Green Deal these subsidies for most people will go, and a loan will replace them which will enable the homeowner to pay for the up-front costs using the savings made on their heating bills.

It is unclear how the apparent gap in take up will be solved and in December the government’s official independent advisors warned that the scheme was looking like only reaching 2-3 million households instead of the targeted 14 million.

You can find more information about the Green Deal in our Green Deal Initiative project page in our new Green Living area.